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makes it easier to manage .PST files is Upstart. This utility converts .PST files to and from a number of different internal formats, and can also merge multiple .PST files into a single .PST.

Originally, Microsoft Outlook stored .PST file data in ANSI format. But more recent versions of Microsoft Outlook allow the use of Unicode storage for .PST files.

Since I deal with email in a number of different languages, I use Unicode storage whenever possible. That said, I have a number of .PST archives -- email from earlier editions of Microsoft Outlook -- that are stored in ANSI format.

I recently wanted to merge them into my current .PST file and convert them to Unicode, so I could have them all available for local indexing and searching. Upstart allowed me to accomplish that.

Upstart requires Microsoft Outlook 2003 to work. When you run it, it'll use Microsoft Outlook's settings to find the default .PST files in use, but you can point it at any directory to search for more .PST files.

After you add the .PST files to be converted to a queue, you can select individual ones for processing or click a button to process all of a certain kind:

All ANSI .PST files

All Unicode .PST files

All .PST files listed

Finally, you choose an action:

Migrate to ANSI

Migrate to Unicode

Merge to a single .PST file

You can also choose the encryption type for the target .PST file(s):

Unencrypted

Compressible encryption

High encryption

Same as the source file(s)

Note that whenever you try to work with an encrypted .PST file in any form, the program will always prompt you for the .PST's password -- i.e., you can't use this to defeat password protection on a .PST.

The basic version of the program is free and is a console version that does conversion. To use the merging feature, you'll need to buy a license for U.S. $45.

Please let others know how useful this tip was via the rating scale below. Do you have a useful Exchange Server or Microsoft Outlook tip, timesaver or workaround to share? Submit it to SearchExchange.com. If we publish it, we'll send you a nifty thank-you gift.

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